Monarch ammuntion from Academy

[jlangton]

I'm sure you guys have seen the ammo from Academy that's pretty cheap-sold under the "Monarch" brand name. I picked up 250 rounds of the steel cased 9mm and 200 rounds of the brass cased 9mm to see if it was any good. The steel cased ammo is marked "Made in Russia",and is coated in a green laquer finish. The brass cased ammo is marked "Made in Serbia",and appears to be Priv-Partizan. The brass cased ammo is $8.79/50 rounds and the steel cased ammo is $6.89/50 rounds. I ran 50 rounds of the brass case through the P89,then 200 rounds of the steel cased through it.
The Brass case ammo is clean to shoot,feeds well,and a good "snappy" load ....very comparable to the CCI Blazer aluminum cased ammo I'm ran through the P89 before. Really a good price for clean shooting ammo that shoots well.
The steel cased ammo is pretty dirty,but it does feed well,and shoots good too-powder is pretty stinky though..smells like old rimfire ammo when you shoot it.I'm gonna need to strip the P89 down completely and scrub it good tomorrow evening-it's really dirty now,and I'm out of cleaning supplies. I'd say for the price,if you're going to the range for alot of shooting,this ammo will do the job just fine,but be ready to clean the gun good afterward.
Just a heads up for those that wondered if this ammo was any good.
JL

 

[asolo]

The brass monarch ammo in the green box is really all I have used in my Glock and Sig. No problems what so ever. It's clean and cheap. I remember buying not that long ago when it was 5.88/50! Wish I bought more, but as you know, hindsight is 20/20. GUess I should pic up some more at ~9.00/box while it is still "cheap"

 

[jlangton]

I agree-I'm gonna go back by Academy and pick up 500 more rounds or so this weekend. I wanted to get some of each just to try out. I'm not a bit disappointed at all in the way either of those shoot, and they both had a very similar "feel" when shooting. The blue box is just kinda nasty and you have clean up after it.
JL

 

[WinchesterAA]

I love monarch ammo out of my AK. Huge fireball, hot loads. Gas does have an interesting odor.

 

[nalioth]

Monarch 7.62x39 and .223 is made by Barnaul in Russia.

 

[Lurp]

Thats pretty much all I run through my AR and 1911. Never had any problems with it what so ever and it's cheap(er)!

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

We have no Academy stores here, and I've not seen this ammo locally.

 

[1SOW]

jlangton

I've used the brass 9mm and it shot fine in my CZ 75B and Sig 239.

I pick up range 9mm cases and find A LOT of "PPU" stamped cases. Probably second most common to "WIN".

 

[Quoheleth]

I've been told - but have not confirmed this personally - that the blue boxed, laquered stuff can really gum up the works in your gun if it gets hot. So, while it is cheaper, be careful. Hmmm...a hot gun in Texas? No thanks...I'll spend a couple bucks more for the green box (if I didn't have time to reload that week <grin>)

Q

 

[jlangton]

I saw no issues with "gumming up" and I ran 200 rounds of through it as quick as I could reload the magazines. Just alot of powder residue,etc all over the gun afterwards. I'm not buying any more after this-I'm gonna get the brass-cased stuff,and keep the brass for reloads.
JL

 

[grimjaw]

I haven't been shooting it very long, but I've used the .40S&W, 9x19 and .380ACP with no issues. I'd keep using it in the Glock, but CCI Blazer brass at Walmart was cheaper.

jm